Ivanhoe man arrested for robbery, two others sought

IVANHOE — Bladen County Sheriff Jim McVicker said deputies arrested Lonnie Junior Willis, 30, of Ivanhoe on Friday and charged him with robbery with a dangerous weapon, among other charges.

“On Wednesday afternoon, the victim, Donnie Levane Stringfield, 59, of Kelly was robbed by three men at his home,” said McVicker. “The robbery happened about 7:30 p.m. The victim told my deputies he was at his residence when someone knocked on the door. Stringfield said when he opened the door that Lonnie Junior Willis, a man he knew, was there and asked if he had change for a $100 bill. When he told Willis no, Willis got in a white car and drove off.”

McVicker said Stringfield told deputies that, about 30 minutes later, Willis and two other men he did not know forced their way into his house and one of the men had a .22 caliber rifle that he held on Stringfield and forced him to lay on the floor. The men proceeded to steal two televisions, the victim’s wallet and cell phone and then fled.”

Stringfield was able to name Willis as a suspect and deputies located him Friday afternoon in Elizabethtown and took him into custody without incident.

McVicker said Willis is being charged with felonious breaking and entering, robbery with a dangerous deapon, and second-degree kidnapping. Willis was placed under a $100,000 secured bond.

“We are continuing our investigation and believe we will have the identity of the two other suspects very soon,” said Sheriff McVicker. “Willis has an extensive prior criminal history and has served time in state prison on previous charges.”